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International Network of Engineers and Scientists Against Proliferation |
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Bulletin 18 - Moving Beyond Missile Defense |
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Missile Disarmament Instead of Missile Defense!Appeal to the German GovernmentI request the German government to refuse any participation in a missile defense system and to persuade the US and European governments to abstain from any such system. Instead of provoking a new arms spiral on the Earth and in space by a costly arms program, we demand diplomatic initiatives that lead to the abolition of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons. Missile defense provokes arms spiral The US administration plans a comprehensive arms program to protect the US and its allies as well as its troops abroad against ballistic missiles. A technically doubtful and costly missile defense system, however, will not diminish the threats by weapons of mass destruction and missiles but increase the risk of nuclear deterrence. To complement ones own offensive potential by a defensive shield provokes the fear of threat and military countermeasures in other states. Building up offensive and defensive missile arsenals and expanding the arms spiral into space endangers the international arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation system. No German and European participation Therefore, the German government should not take part in the new weapon plans and should urge its allies to abstain from missile defense. A threat to peace by missile defense must not be dismissed by pointing to economical or technological interests. Nuclear missiles and missile defense systems are Cold War instruments and not useful for solving the urgent problems of mankind and for developing useful technologies. European participation in missile defense technology means co-responsibility for the damage done to international security and stability. Priority for disarmament and non-proliferation We have but one chance to get rid of the threat caused by weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles - among them still more than 20,000 US and Russian nuclear weapons: to strengthen international cooperation in disarmament and non-proliferation and to give priority to diplomacy and non-military conflict resolution. Rather than initiate new arms programs by promoting exaggerated enemy concepts, the German government should promote the controlled abolition of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons and in order to globally remove any perceived need for missile defense.Darmstadt/Kassel, March 24, 2001 On the initiative of German INES and INESAP members, a coalition of German organizations adopted this appeal which has since been promoted by a multitude of organizations. Signatures will be collected until autumn 2002 when parliamentarian elections will be held in Germany. |
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